Opinions from around the country

Vice President Dick Cheney and other members of the Bush administration may have something to hide, and it is time they fessed up.

Members of Congress are urging Cheney to release information from his meetings with Enron and other energy industry executives in crafting the administrations energy policy. But, Cheney says he is standing firm on the issue.

Cheney insists that his releasing the information would inhibit his chance to receive “unvarnished advice” without the meddling of Congress. Apparently this “advice” is much more important than allowing the supposedly insignificant truth to be made public.

But Cheney is an elected official and is meant to be a servant of the people. This is information people have a right to know. Congress, but more importantly the citizens of the United States, have the right to know who Cheney spoke with and what they spoke about.

The collapse of Enron has left the country with mixed feelings over how much the Bush administration knew about the corporation and how much influence it may have had with the administration. A new poll released by CBS and The New York Times found that more than half of people surveyed believe that the Bush administration was either hiding something or lying. Of course, his stance of staying as quiet as possible on the subject isn’t helping his cause either.

If the administration is hiding something then it is essential that the people know. The effect that the energy policy has on all Americans is extraordinary.

By not releasing the information, Cheney is only shedding a strange light on himself that will prove to hurt him in the end. The information he may have is not so much a matter of national security as it is a security blanket for the vice president and the administration.

The checks and balances set up by the founders of our nation are in place to ensure that power is equal and not absolute. We think that Cheney must recognize Congress’ initiative to uncover what, if anything, the Bush administration knew about the Enron collapse. But also, Congress must learn how this information is integrated into the building of the energy policy. Otherwise, Cheney’s secrecy is only helping the economy along its current downturn.

This editorial is from the Daily Forty-Niner at California State University-Long Beach. This column was distributed by U-Wire.

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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002